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Weather Eye: composers kick up a storm

Paul Simons

November 16 2011, 12:01am, The Times

The weather has had a huge influence on artists, but less well known is its influence on composers. However, a recent study has highlighted how orchestral pieces feature atmospheric phenomena, with British composers particularly enthusiastic about large storms and composers from Central Europe being more interested in thunderstorms.

The title of the piece often gives the clue to the role of the weather or even climate. Other pieces clearly mimic the sounds of the weather, or imply its moods. For example, An Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss describes a day of hiking on a mountain when a thunderstorm breaks, with extra percussion in the storm scenes. And storms seem to be popular in the music interludes in operas, marking a dramatic turning point in the…

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